A family in London recently got in touch because sleep had suddenly become really difficult for their 12-month-old. Their baby had previously been sleeping relatively well, but things had started to change. Bedtime was taking longer, there were frequent night wakings and some nights their baby would wake in the middle of the night and stay awake for a long period.
The family had also noticed that the second nap was becoming increasingly difficult. Some days their baby would take it, other days they would completely refuse it. They weren’t sure whether their baby was ready to transition from two naps to one or whether dropping the second nap would make sleep worse.
As a baby sleep consultant in London, I started by looking at their baby’s sleep across the full 24 hours rather than focusing on the night wakings alone.
When we started working together, the family was dealing with:
Sleep had become unpredictable and the parents weren’t sure whether to offer two naps, push through to one nap or compensate with an earlier bedtime.
There isn’t one exact age when every baby should move from two naps to one. Some babies are ready earlier than others, which is why I don’t recommend dropping a nap based on age alone.
Before making any changes, I asked the family to track their baby’s sleep. This allowed me to look at how much sleep their baby was actually getting over 24 hours, how long they were awake between sleeps, how easily they were falling asleep and what was happening overnight.
Rather than suddenly removing a nap and expecting their baby to manage a completely different day, we worked through the transition based on how their baby responded. The plan included:
This wasn’t about following a standard one-nap schedule.
We used their baby’s sleep data and individual sleep needs to work out what suited them.
As the daytime schedule became better balanced, nights started to improve. The long periods awake during the night reduced, night wakings became less frequent and bedtime became much easier.
Their baby was also settling into one more predictable daytime nap rather than fighting the second nap every afternoon.
For the parents, understanding why the split nights were happening made a huge difference. Instead of continually trying different bedtimes and nap lengths, they had a schedule that reflected how much sleep their baby actually needed.
If you’re looking for a baby sleep consultant in London because your baby is struggling with naps, waking frequently overnight or having split nights, I can help you work out what may be happening. I work with families across London, including North London, South London, East London, West London and Central London.
Whether you’re dealing with the transition from two naps to one, difficult bedtimes, early waking, short naps or frequent night wakings, I’ll look at your child’s sleep across the whole 24 hours before recommending changes.
When should my baby transition from two naps to one?
There isn’t one exact age that works for every baby. Rather than changing the schedule based purely on age, I look for patterns such as regularly refusing a nap, taking much longer to fall asleep, bedtime becoming difficult or changes to night sleep.
Can too much daytime sleep cause split nights?
The balance between daytime and nighttime sleep can contribute to long periods awake during the night. If your baby is being offered more sleep across 24 hours than they currently need, they may not have enough sleep pressure to maintain a consolidated night.
Why is my 12-month-old suddenly waking frequently at night?
There can be several reasons for increased night waking. At this age, changing sleep needs and nap transitions are worth considering alongside your baby’s settling, feeding, environment and general wellbeing. Looking at several days of sleep data can help identify a pattern rather than guessing from one difficult night.
How do I know if my baby is ready to drop the second nap?
Regularly refusing the second nap can be one sign, but I wouldn’t make the decision based on one or two days. Difficulty settling for naps or bedtime and changes in overnight sleep can also provide useful information. I prefer to look at the pattern across several days before recommending a transition.
Can a sleep consultant help with the two-to-one nap transition?
Yes. A sleep consultant can look at your baby’s current sleep needs and help you work out whether they’re genuinely ready for one nap. If they are, a personalised plan can make the transition much easier to navigate.
Do you provide baby sleep support in London?
Yes. I work with families across London and also provide telephone consultations and In- home support for families throughout the UK.
Could I Help With Your Baby’s Sleep?
If your baby’s second nap has suddenly become a daily battle, bedtime is getting later or you’re finding yourself wide awake with your baby for hours during the night, it may be worth looking at their schedule.
As a baby sleep consultant in London, I’ll look at your baby’s sleep data, individual sleep needs and the balance between daytime and nighttime sleep before recommending any changes.
Get in touch to arrange a free discovery call.
